Once finals week ends and most of the college students leave for the summer, Pittsburgh turns into a completely different city. During the school year, it\u2019s easy to think that Pittsburgh is just bridges, hills and windy weather, but the summer allows you to discover the fun and warmth of the city without any stress. Whether it\u2019s your first summer staying in the city or you consider yourself a full-on Pittsburgher, the city has tons of exciting, new experiences. Ranging from Pittsburgh classics to hidden gems, this list rounds up 10 things to do here this summer.<\/p>\n
Watch a movie at your local park<\/p>\n
Every summer, Dollar Bank sponsors movie nights<\/a> at various local parks, including Flagstaff Hill, Highlight Park, Riverside Park and more. Though the official schedule hasn\u2019t come out for this year, last year\u2019s roster featured a wide variety of movies, from classics like \u201cO Brother, where art thou?\u201d to new releases such as \u201cThe Minecraft Movie.\u201d Admission to these movie nights is completely free, and they offer audio descriptive service on site.\u00a0<\/p>\n Explore a local farmers market<\/p>\n What better way to get to know Pittsburgh and its people than by supporting a bunch of local businesses at your local farmers market<\/a>? All summer long, and continuing into October, multiple farmers markets open weekly in the city. There are markets all over the city, so pick whichever one is closest to you.\u00a0<\/p>\n Try yummy International coffee<\/p>\n If you love treating yourself to a coffee in the afternoons, Yemeni coffee could be an exciting new experience. Step out of your comfort zone and try a new drink like a Mufawar<\/p>\n or a Tahini Date Affogato. My favorite international coffee spots in Pittsburgh are Shibam Coffee<\/a> on Center Avenue and Afters Cafe<\/a> in Squirrel Hill, a locally owned and operated shop.<\/p>\n Explore wildlife at The National Aviary<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for something a bit different from your typical museum day, the National Aviary<\/a> is an awesome way to switch things up. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the aviary offers different ways to explore natural habitats and learn about the plants and birds that live there. You can view a feeding, walk around the aviary or have a special animal encounter. There are also special exhibits and seasonal events that are constantly changing, so everyone can experience something new.\u00a0<\/p>\n P.S. \u2014 the aviary even has a livestream<\/a> all spring and summer showing the Peregrine Falcon nest on top of the Cathedral of Learning!\u00a0<\/p>\n See the stars on a tour of the Allegheny Observatory<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a fan of history or a fan of the stars, then the Alleghany Observatory is the place for you. Their free evening tours of the observatory are held all summer long from Wednesdays to Fridays and give visitors a chance to explore a special part of Pittsburgh history. If you\u2019re lucky enough to go on a night when the skies are clear, you can go into the telescope dome and catch a glimpse of the starry night sky. Reservations are required, so make sure to register for a tour<\/a> ahead of time.<\/p>\n Picklesburgh: It\u2019s kind of a big dill\u00a0<\/p>\n A Pittsburgh classic, everyone knows and loves Picklesburgh<\/a>. Even if you don\u2019t like pickles, the festival has a fun and energetic atmosphere that makes attending at least once worth it. It\u2019s a good way to spend the day \u2014 enjoying the city landscape and eating good, local food. This year, the festival will be held from July 16-19, and admission is free.<\/p>\n Spend the afternoon at Color Park<\/p>\n If you want a relaxed, chill afternoon with your friends or family, Color Park<\/a> in South Side is the place to go. Not only does it have one of the best views of Pittsburgh, but graffiti is legal within the park, so it showcases local art. Take a look at other people\u2019s art, or make your own!<\/p>\n Find your favorite art piece at Randyland<\/p>\n Randyland is one of the coolest places you can go to in this city \u2014 it is unreal. The house-turned-art museum tells the story of its founder, Randy Gilson \u2014 a Pittsburgh native. The museum is open year-round, but it comes to life in the summer, accompanied by the gorgeous greenery surrounding it. Tickets are required for this experience, so make sure to buy them<\/a> beforehand.<\/p>\n Attend the Three Rivers Art Festival<\/p>\n Though the Three Rivers Art Festival<\/a> happens every year, this year\u2019s festival is special because it marks the grand opening of Arts Landing<\/a>, a new outdoor civic space in Pittsburgh\u2019s Cultural District that will be a long-term home for the festival. This is a perfect place to spend hours walking around, taking in all of the wacky art pieces, and getting to know Pittsburgh through its artists. This free event will run for seven days this summer, June 5-7 and June 11-14, so you have plenty of time to go check it out.<\/p>\n Eat a turkey leg at the Renaissance Festival<\/p>\n